Willenhall’s new railway station promises a brighter future, but for Russell Eynon, owner of Arx Apparel and PPE, it has brought nothing but despair. Russell is now seeking a quarter of a million pounds in compensation, claiming the two-year railway construction has pushed his company to breaking point and left him personally insolvent.
Russell, who took over the business in 2021, says his troubles began when a portion of his Bilston Street site was needed for the railway development. The original contractor, Buckingham Group, promised compensation, but then went bust before any agreement was finalised. When Kier Transportation took over the project, some compensation was paid, but Russell insists it was a mere drop in the ocean compared to the damage inflicted.
With plant machinery blocking his storefront and a third of his building gone, customers thought Arx Apparel was closed. Orders plummeted, and without the cash flow, Russell couldn’t pay suppliers, leading to further lost contracts. He was forced to lay off two-thirds of his staff, and his elderly mother even volunteered her time to help. The emotional and financial toll was immense, leading to health struggles and dark thoughts for Russell, who eventually had to declare himself insolvent and liquidate both Arx Apparel and his other business, Breakwells Paints.
Now, Russell is demanding £260,720 from Kier. This isn’t about profit, he explains, but simply to clear his crushing debts, restore his businesses’ shattered reputation, and reclaim his life. He’s maxed out credit cards and has “nothing” left.
Kier and Transport for West Midlands acknowledge the disruption, stating they’ve worked collaboratively with local businesses and that compensation was paid in good faith. However, for Russell Eynon, the battle for true justice is far from over.
Source: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/willenhall-business-man-who-dreads-33075034
